Pets on a plane: should they stay in the cargo hold?
Travel news — By Chris on February 23, 2010 at 4:10 pm
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Traveling with pets has become big business. More and more, you see hotels rolling out the red carpet for dogs, cats and other pets with special packages and welcoming treats. And I can’t seem to board a plane these days without seeing someone carrying a small animal in a case with them.
But a group of Canadian doctors want to kick animals out of the main cabin, saying they pose too much of an allergy risk to other passengers.
A New York Times story today quotes Dr Matthew B. Stanbrook, deputy scientific editor for the Canadian Medical Association Journal, as saying that ”1 in 10 people have allergies to animals,” and that exposure to dogs and cats in a small space such as an airplane cabin can “set off an asthma attack or a life-threatening reaction.”
And in an opinion piece for that medical journal written last week, Stanbrook and other doctors wrote, unequivocally: “Pets can be accommodated comfortably and safely in airplane cargo holds, which is where they belong. Airlines must choose to put the needs of their human passengers first, or be forced to do so.”
Personally I’ve never brought my cats on a plane, mostly because I’d hate to hear the racket that might ensue if they were in the main cabin (and I’m not always comfortable drugging them). But if I needed to have them flown, I’d definitely pay the extra fees to have them with me . While I know people who have put their pets in the cargo hold with no problems, I’ve always been leery of the extreme temperatures that the animals could be exposed to. Plus you always read those stories of animals escaping and getting lost in the plane and traveling halfway around the world before someone finds them (I know, I read way too much).
Yet I can see where the doctors are coming from. I have friends with pet allergies so severe that their face swells up when they enter a room where a cat is. It’s not that they don’t like the animals; it’s that they physically can’t cope with the dander. The opinion piece from the doctors doesn’t contain any statistics; I’d be interested to know many people have suffered allergy attacks when flying.
Perhaps the best solution is that proposed by Pet Airways, which started service last year. This is an airline that ONLY transports pets, in a main cabin specially designed for pet carriers. An attendant checks on the “pawssengers” every 15 minutes and the animals are given potty breaks before and after the flight. Drawbacks? It’s pricey – fares start at $149 and it’s only in 10 U.S. cities. Still, what a great alternative for someone doing a corporate cross-country move. (I’d love to talk to someone who has used this service: if you have, write me a comment or send me an email at chris@caroundtheworld.com)
What do you think? Should people be forced to check their pets in cargo instead of bringing them into the main cabin? Tell me below.
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7 Comments
I only travel with my small dog when absolutely necessary, and when I do he travels in the cabin with me. He stays in his carrier, under my seat, and is sedated to the point where he is quiet and not a nuisance to other passengers. I alert my nearby travelers, and allergies have never come up as an issue. If they ever are, I would be happy to change my seat and relocate to an area of the plane where there no such issues. It’s more convenient than sending him on a separate pet airline, and I feel more comfortable knowing he is safe under my seat than in the cargo.
My dog is only 5.5 pounds and has quite a few flights under his belt. Like Jillian (who made the first comment), I feel better knowing he’s with me. I’ve been on flights where the attendants don’t mind if he sleeps on my lap in his blanket (Miami) as well as flights where they’ve insisted he stay under the seat, in his carrier (Puerto Rico). He’s a yapper, therefore I do give him a tranquilizer to keep him calm AND to keep the other passengers from giving me the evil eye.
Allergies have not been a problem on any flight I’ve taken so far. Again, like Jillian, I’d be happy to relocate my seat if there were one. I believe it’s up to each commercial carrier to inform all travelers there is the possibility of a pet flying with them in the cabin.
I don’t like the idea of pets in the cargo hold because I’ve heard way to many horror stories. The cost of the dog’s travel r/t on commercial airlines equals that of a one way fare on the pet airline. Cost is an issue and depending on how long I’m traveling or where I’m going, it’s usually more cost effective to take him with me. I think my dog would stay home a lot more should the airlines decide to ban pets from the main cabin.
2 words… H*ll No!
When I moved from California to Virginia my dad and I carried-on my two cats in the cabin. There is no way I would put them in cargo and out of my sight. If I ever have a need to travel again with my pets, I would do the same. I agree with both Jillian and Danielle, I would be willing to relocate seats if asked.
What about people who are allergic to peanuts? Should we ban all passengers from being able to bring any food item that may have been contaminated with peanuts? What about people allergic to perfumes? Should anything scented be banned too? Hmmm… where does it end?
Exactly. Where does it end? There is no end. I already heard people talking about banning peanut products on flights altogether. I don’t know if it went anywhere or already has been implemented. It’s too bad some people have such severe allergies to the point that it’s a disability, but like you said, where does it end? And why does it have to affect the rest of the population’s lives? It’s come to the point that accommodations for them has gone beyond mere “accommodations,” and is affecting everyone else’s lives. As for the peanut issue, some schools have banned peanut products for all students. My brother was told that if he insists on having his daughters bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to school for lunch, the school would have to be informed so that it can be handled separately by school officials, and his daughters would have to eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by themselves, separate from everyone else in the cafetaria. It’s come to this.
My wife and I have flown a dozen or so times with our dog and never had a problem with someone having an allergic reaction.
What about seeing eye dogs? Would a blind person be forced to separate from his or her dog? I highly doubt it.
It seems to me more and more airlines are allowing pets to fly in-cabin. Southwest recently approved pets to fly in-cabin, Delta has lowered its’ fees to be more competitive. Pets in-cabin is easy revenue. Our 3 lb Chihuahua sometimes costs more than my plane ticket.
No US commercial air carrier allows in-cabin pets out of their carriers on board the aircraft — none — and for good reasons. Among these reasons is the safety of your animal. Bring a pet on board if you will, if you must, if you can afford to. But keep it in its carrier, throughout the flight. Yes, occasionally my fellow flight attendants turn a blind eye. But that doesn’t mean that we all will or should. No one should allow you to do that.
@Toni – I was just on a flight where the woman took her dog out of its carrier and put it on the seat with her for most of the cross-country trip. Granted, the dog behaved perfectly. But again, I can’t help wondering what happens when other passengers have allergies.